Wikileaks founder faces extradition charges

Julian_Assange_Julian Assange is facing extradition charges as London court will rule on Wednesday whether WikiLeaks’ founder, who angered the US government by publishing thousands of secret diplomatic memos, can be extradited from Britain to Sweden for questioning over alleged sexual crimes. With its finances under pressure and some of its biggest revelations already public, WikiLeaks may not have the strength to survive if Britain’s high court judge decides on Wednesday in favour of a Swedish request to extradite Julian Assange to face trial over rape allegations, some experts argue.

Swedish authorities want to question the 40-year-old over accusations of rape and sexual assault made by two former female volunteers for his WikiLeaks organization. The case has cast a shadow over Julian Assange and his whistle-blowing website which published a cache of more than 250,000 secret U.S. diplomatic cables last year and caused a media sensation.

Legal analysts were predicting a ruling in favor of extradition. According to Julian Assange Knowles, an extradition lawyer in London who has been following the case very closely said that the court in England generally favour extradition. He also added that very few people can reverse a European Arrest Warrant. Julian Assange may have the right to challenge an unfavorable verdict in Britain’s Supreme Court. But Knowles said that if he were denied leave to appeal, that result could be devastating for the Wikileaks organization.

Wikileaks founder faces extradition charges

Report by Adhir Roy Chowdury